Annalisa Hillis-Ravin ’92 died on January 11, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts.
(The following was provided by family)
Annalisa Hillis-Ravin of Canton, MA, died on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from complications of Myotonic Dystrophy. Annalisa was born on February 27, 1970, in Boston, MA. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Hillis; parents, Carol Baum and Richard Ravin of Newbury, MA; her children, Lee and Zander Hillis; her constant supporter, cousin Jana Lipman of New Orleans, LA; and other family members. Known as Bidu, she grew up in Santa Monica, CA, where she lived in a commune with four other families. She graduated with honors from Santa Monica High School (1988) and Bowdoin College (1992) and received her master’s in education from Lesley University. An adventurous traveler, Bidu made trips throughout the world, including twice to Nepal, where she climbed 14,500 ft to the base of Annapurna as a 13-year-old. An article she wrote about that trip was published by Cricket Magazine in December, 1985. Settling in New England, Bidu was a valued and inventive middle school teacher who created with her students time-traveler’s guides to many ancient cultures. In recent years, Bidu faced her illness without complaint, determined to live life as she wanted.
I just learned of Bidu’s passing. She was a wonderful, loving, exuberant person. I was going through some old things and found a letter she wrote to me in 1993 just after graduating where she talks about being so excited that she was getting a job as a studio assistant in Portsmouth. With that letter she sent me a beautiful large photo of a dance at Delta Sig. I always remember her as having a great passion for life which was very inspiring. In that letter, she also talks about being so excited that her parents were moving to Newburyport where she could see them more often. Sending her husband, children and parents my deepest condolences. Caroline